Did you completely remove any previous versions of XAMPP including the xampp folder before trying to install 1.7.2 version as instructed using either of the 2 methods on the XAMPP for Windows home page?(The installations instruction are also clearly included on the above Home Page).

mickdeman wrote:I have just attempted to XAMPP 1.7.2 on Windows XP.

You would have downloaded a self extracting archive exe file that will run the installation setup automatically and correctly install XAMPP when you double click on it.How exactly did you try and install the XAMPP 1.7.2 version?

mickdeman wrote:I double clicked setup_xampp.bat

Why do this when it is run automatically when you install XAMPP 1.7.2 and how many times did you run the bat file?(Some files are deleted after the installation setup script is first run).

When installing 1.7.2 the first time, did you answer all the questions using the defaults when the automatic installation setup script was run?

What do you see now when you open your XAMPP Control Panel?Are Apache and MySQL showing a green running indication?

Finally you may have to uninstall this 1.7.2 version using the methods outlined on the above XAMPP home page then do a new install of 1.7.2 by double clicking on the downloaded exe file and answering the questions in the installation script console window when asked.

I downloaded a self extracting archive exe file.And the first thing that came up was

X Exit

Please choose (1-0/x):

And no questions. and so i clicked x (which is the only option). Mysql was running but apache was not and apache would not start.

I double clicked setup_xampp.bat because i was hoping those questions would come up again.

Ok so now to uninstall i have clicked uninstall_xampp.bat as per the instructions but this comes upThe system cannot find the file specifiedThe system cannot find the file specifiedInput Error: cannot find script file "C:\xampp\uninst.temp\xampp_uninstall.vbs"